Metal plate flanging machine



Jan. 16, 1962 E. E. .JOHNSON METAL PLATE FLANGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 1959 ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 16, 1962 E, E, JOHNSON 3,016,942

METAL PLATE FLANGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 'Er-neat' E. Johnson.

ATTORNEY.

swg. 2.

Jan. 16, 1962 E. E. .JOHNSON METAL PLATE FLANGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet -3 Filed Nov. 20, 1959 JNVENToR. Emea! Edah/1.50m

Jan. 16, -1962 E. E. .JoHNsoN 3,016,942

METAL PLATE FLANGING MACHINE A TTORNEY.

Jan. 16, 1962 E. E. JOHNSON 3,016,942

METAL PLATE FLANGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2o, 1959 e sheets-sheet 5 D@ Rm.

BY Mm uw ATTORNEV.

Jan. 16, 1962 E. E. JOHNSON METAL PLATE FLANGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 20, 1959 m@ hm INVENTOR V Ernest E. Joh/760i?- BY MM Lw/Zar ATTORNEY.

United States atent 3,016,942 METAL PLATE FLANGING MACHINE Ernest E. Johnson, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Blue Valley Machine & Manufacturing Company, Kansas .1 City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Fiied Nov. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 854,467

lil Claims. (Cl. 153-4) This invention relates to metal plate hanging machines, and more particularly to apparatus for hanging or otherwise forming marginal portions of plates such as tank bottoms, heads and the like.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a machine that is quickly adjustable for flanging or forming marginal portions of circular plates or heads of different thickness and diameter and of dierent radii of dish from flat to standard dished heads where the radius of the dish is equal to the diameter of the head and adapted to turn the flange or marginal portion to stand at different angles with different radii of bend without distorting the body or ange as to gauge or thickness and without weakening the metal at the bending point; to provide such a machine with mechanism for rotatably supporting the work piece on an axis that is tiltable and movable relative to the forming rolls for different diameter and radii of dish of heads; to provide such supporting mechanism with movable clamping members to be quickly moved to head clamping and supporting position and to releasing position for facilitating changing of heads being formed; to provide such a machine with an abutment roller and a hanging roller supported on a sector movable to cause the Hanging roller to bend a work piece against the abutment roller wherein the sector is movable to shift the fianging roller toward and away from the abutment roller to change the angle of engagement of the hanging roller with the work piece; to provide such a machine in which the work piece is revolved automatically through engagement with a power rotated abutment roller; and to provide a machine for hanging or forming marginal portions of circular plates or heads with fluid actuators and shifting mechanisms for ease and speed of movement of the parts and control thereof and that is efficient and positive in accurate forming operations.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a Side elevation of a Hanging machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in position for Hanging a dished head, portions of which are broken away to illustrate the position of parts engaging same.

Y FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial vertical section through the flange forming portion of the machine.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the machine on the line 3 3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical section through the machine on the line 4 4, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional View through the machine on the line 5 5, FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional View through the machine o-n the line 5 5, FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view through a side portion of the machine on the line 7 7, FIG, 1.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view through the head supporting portion of the machine on the line 8 8, FIG. 10.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the head centering and supporting structure.

FIG. l0 is a vertical sectional view through the machine on the line 10 10, FIG. 9.

spacing between said side plates.

ICC

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 generally designates a metal plate bending or anging machine constructed in accordance Iwith the present invention and which is particularly designed for flanging or forming the marginal edges of circular work pieces or plates, for example, those used in forming at or crowned bottoms and heads of tanks and the like. The machine includes a base 2 having spaced elongate struc-` tural members such as channels 3 and 4 adapted to be rigidly secured to a floor or foundation by suitable fastening devices such as bolts 5 extending through flanges 6 along the lower sides of said channels.

The elongate members 3 and 4 are connected by transverse members 7 and 8 to form a rigid structure. In the illustrated structure, the base also includes channel members 9 secured to the outer faces of the webs 10 of the channels 3 and 4 and extending from one end 11 thereof, as illustrated in FIG. l. Carried upon the base 2 is an opstanding portion or frame 12 having spaced side plates 13 and 14 with lower edges 15 resting on the upper faces of the members 3 and 4, said plates 13 and 14 having `elongate foot or angle members 16 secured to the outer faces thereof by suitable fastening devices such as bolts 17 with the angles having outwardly extending44 flanges 18 resting on the upper face of the channels 9 and secured thereto as by bolts 19.

The side plates 13 and 14 have end edges 20 preferably aligned with the end 11 of the base with said plates extending toward the opposite end 21 of the base and termi nating in end edges 22 intermediate the ends of the base. The angle members 16 and channels 9 extend beyond the edge 22 with said extending portions of the angles 16 secured to a lower guide rail structure 23 which rests on the base members 3 and 4 and extends from adjacent the side plate edges 22 to the end 21 of the base, asillustrated in FIG. l, the rail structure 23 being of substantial length whereby large diameter work pieces may be accom` in upwardly spaced relation from the rail structure 23' whereby' said side plates have upper and lower portions or arms 25 and 25 respectively extending forwardly from the rear of the mouths 24. The upper arms 25 are connected by a cross member 27 secured in place by bol-ts 28 to provide a rigid structure and maintain positive The cross member 27 has spaced portions 29 provided with a bore 30 through which a shaft 31 extends, said shaft being rotatably carried by anti-friction bearings 32 mounted in counter-bores 33 extending inwardly from opposite ends of the members 29. The shaft 31 is inclined downwardly toward the opening to the mouth 24 and has an end 34 on which an abutment roller 35 is keyed for rotation with the shaft. The abutment roller 3S, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is particularly adapted for use in hanging or forming of work pieces such as dished heads 36, and the abutment roller 3S may be removed from the end 34 of the shaft 31 and replaced by other forms of rolls for particular opera'v tions and shapes of anges. The other end of the shaft 31 has a bevel gear 37 xed thereon and meshing with a bevel pinion 38 fixed on a shaft 39 extending longitudinally of the upper portion of the upstanding fr-ame between the side plates 13 and 14, said shaft being rotatably mounted in spaced bearings 40 and 41 carried in transverse or cross members 42 and 43 respectively which extend between the side plates 13 and 14 and are rigidly secured thereto as by welding as at 44. The shaft 39 extends beyond the edges 20 of the side plates and has a pulley 45 fixed thereon and operatively connected by laterally outwardly of the side plate 14 whereby operation Patented Jan. 16, 1962 of the motor 49 will effect rotation of the abutment roller 35 to rotate a plate being bent as later described.

An upper rail structure 51 is arranged on the upper portion of the side plates 13 and 14 of the frame 12 and extends outwardly therefrom over the rail structure 23 in vertically spaced parallel relation thereto. The rail structure 51, in the illustrated structure, consists of spaced channel members 52 and 53.with their webs 54 engaging the outer surfaces 55 of the side plates 13 and 14 adjacent the upper portion thereof, said channels 52 and 53 having anges 56 extending outwardly with the upper ilanges securedby fastening devices 57 to a cross bar 58 that is also secured by fastening devices 57' to the upper edges 61 of the side plates 13 and 14. The upper flanges of the channels 52 and 53 have a plurality of spaced threaded holes in which the fastening devices 57 are secured whereby said fastening devices 57 are removed when the channels are to be moved longitudinally and are replaced to aid in holding the channels in adjusted position. The side plates 13 and 14 are also connected at their upper edges by cross bars 59 and 60 which have extensions 60' that engage the upper anges 56 of the channels 52 and 53 to hold same downwardly as shown in FIG. 6. The extending end of the rail members 52 and 53 `are connected by a cross member 62 to form a rigid structure. The lower flanges of the rail members 52 and 53 rest on outwardly extending lugs 63 spaced along the side plates 13 and 14 whereby the upper rail structure 51 may be moved longitudinally on the upright portion or frame 12. To facilitate such movement, the lower portion of one of the rail members is provided with a rack 64 engaged by a pinion 65 operated by a crank 66 which when rotated with the fastening devices 57 removed will tend to move the -rail 51 longitudinally to a selected adjusted position, and the rails are secured in said selected position by the fastening devices 57 and also by suitable fastening devices such as bolts 67 that are threaded into threaded openings 68 in the side plates 13 and 14.

A work piece or plate 36 which may be in the form of a dished head 36 has its axial center portion gripped between rotatable upper and lower center members 69 and 7 0 positioned whereby the marginal portion to be bent extends into the mouth 24 beyond the abutment roller 35, and the marginal portion is Supported on a support roller 71 and side rollers 72 carried by a block 73 that is slid- -able vertically in ways 74 formed by slots 75 extending downwardly in the arms 26 from the mouths 24. The support roller 71 has anti-friction bearings 77 rotatably mounting said roller on a spindle '78 xed on the block 73 and extending therefrom toward the back of the mouths 24 whereby the roller 71 is adapted to engage the under side of the work piece and underlie the area thereof engaged by the abutment roller 35, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The block 73 has wings 79 extending through the slots 75 and laterally outwardly of the side plates 13 and 14, and split bearing members 80 are secured to said wings 79 by suitable fastening devices such as bolts 81. The split bearing members have vertical bores in which are slidably mounted Shanks 82 of side roller carriers 83 whereby the carriers may be rotated about vertical axes and adjusted vertically relative to the bearing members 80 to position the side rollers 72 to engage the under side of the work piece 36 and cooperate with the support roller 71 and the center support members 69 and 70 to guide the Work piece during the bending or forming operations. The split bearing members have slots 84 between anges 85 with bolts 86 arranged to draw the flanges together to clamp the split bearing member 80 on to the Shanks 82 to hold the side roller carriers and rollers in selected adjusted position and cause said side rollers to move with the support roller 71 in response to vertical movement of the block 73.

An operating member or extensible member S7 is connected with the block 73 to raise and lower same. The operating member 87 consists of a cylinder 88 carried on I selected position.

a transverse or cross bar 89 having ends secured to the base members 3 and 4. A piston 90 is reciprocable in the cylinder 88 and has a piston rod 91 that extends through the upper end of the cylinder with the upper end of said rod being connected to the block 73 by suitable fastening devices such as bolts 92. Suitable fluid such as air under pressure is supplied to the lower end of the cylinder 8S by a duct 93 under control of a lever operated valve 94 whereby when uid pressure is introduced into the lower end of the cylinder 88 the piston and piston rod is moved upwardly to raise the block 73 and the support roller 71 and side rollers 72 into engagement with the under side of a head to be formed, the support roller 71 effecting a gripping engagement of said head between said support roller 71 and the abutment roller 35. The support roller 71 and the side rollers 72 are shown as beveled rollers which would be used in flanging or bending marginal portions of dished heads. However, it is to be understood that rollers having cylindrical peripheries, as for flat heads, or other suitable shapes may be substituted for the beveled rollers to accommodate the particular work piece to be formed. Set screws 72' are Y adjustably moun-ted on ears 13 extending laterally from the side plates 13 and 14 and serve as stops to limit upward movement of the block 73 which has lugs 73 adapted to engage said screws 72'. The set screws are adjusted whereby when engaged by the lugs 73' the spacing between the abutment roller 35 and support roller 71 is the thickness of the metal of the head being formed.

The work pieces or heads may vary in diameter and may vary from flat pieces to heads of various dish shape, necessitating that the angle of the axis of rotation of the work piece be adjustable and the position of said axis relative to the abutment roller be adjusted on the respective rail structures 23 and S1 to accommodate the diameter of work piece. The lower center support structure includes a slide member 95 having ways 96 slidably engaging guide tracks 97 secured on upper flanges 93 of spaced structural members 99 forming the lower rail structure 23. Fastening devices, such as set screws 100, are arranged in the slide member 95 and adapted to engage the guide tracks 97 to secure the slide member in wardly extending flanges 101 and a block 102 is pivotally mounted between said flanges by pivot trunnions 103 which extend through bearing holes 104 in said anges. The block 102 has a plurality of spaced apertures 105 adapted to be selectively registered with slots 106 in the flanges 101 for insertion of a pin 107 to hold the block at selected angular relation to selectively tilt the axis of the lower center member 70 carried on said block. The block 102 has a threaded bore 103 in which is screwed a carrier 109 having anti-friction bearings 110 rotatably mounting the center member 70,y said center member having a center pin 111 extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to extend through a center hole 112 in the work piece 36 to be formed. The slide member 95 has a depending ear 113 with athreaded bore 114 in which is threaded an adjusting screw 115 extending longitudinally of the rail structure 23 and provided with a crank 116 whereby the set screws 100 may be loosened and the crank rotated to move the slide member longitudinally of the rail member to position the lower center member 70 the proper distance from the abutment roller for the diameter of the work piece, and then the set screws 100 tightened to retain the slide member in said selected position.

The upper center member 69 has a recess 118 to receive the center pin 111. The upper center member 69' is rotatably mounted on bearings 119 carried on an extensible member 120 which includes a piston rod 121 extending downwardly from a cylinder 122 supported on a carriage 123 movable on the upper rail structure 51. The cylinder 122 has upper and lower fluid ducts 125 and 126 respectively that communicate through a valve The slide member 95 has spaced up.

127 with a supply line 128 connected to a suitable source of fluid supply such as compressed air whereby actuation of the valve 127 will move the piston rod 121 and the center member 69 thereon toward and away from a work piece. The cylinder 122 is lixed on a cross plate 129 pivotally mounted by pivot members 130 on side members 131 and 132 that are adjustably carried on hanger bolts 133 extending Vdownwardly from a carriage 134 having rollers 135 adapted to roll on the upper faces of the rail structure 51. Die side members 131 and 132 have ways 136 slidably engaging guide flanges 137 on the lower edges of the rail members 52 and 53 and are provided with suitable fastening devices such as set screws 13S adapted to secure the ways to the guide iianges to hold the carriage in selected position. The cross plate 129 and side members 131 and 132 have registrable openings 139 spaced therein to receive a pin 141 to hold the cylinder and piston rod in selected tilted position whereby the piston rod and upper center member 69 are coaxial with the lower center member 79. A brace meinber 142 is secured to the cross plate 129 and engages the piston rod 121 in spaced relation to said cross plate to give added support to the long piston rod. When a work piece is positioned in centered relation to the center pin 112, and with the center members 69 and 7) in axial relation, pressure applied to the upper portion of the cylinder 122 will force the piston rod 121 downwardly to clamp the work piece between the center members 69 and 70. The carrier 109, being threaded into the bore 1123, provides an adjustment of the center member 79 from the block 102 to further position the work piece in desired position according to the shape thereof.

A bending or hanging roller 145 is located between the side plates 13 and 14 and is journalled on a stub shaft 146 secured in a sector 147 having side tongues 143 engaging in grooves 149 of an arcuate guide 150. The arcuate guide 151i includes spaced guide plates 151 having their outer faces 152 slidably engaged with the inner faces 153 of the side plates 13 and 14. The lower portion of the guide plates 151 remote from the arcuate grooves 149 are rigidly connected by a bar 154. The upper portion of the arcuate guide 159 is pivotaiiy mounted on a shaft 155 having a spacer 156 sleeved thereon between the guide plates 151 to cooperate with the bar 154 in maintaining the spacing of said guide plates. The shaft 155 has its ends mounted in slide blocks 157 mounted in guide openings 158 in the side plates 13 and 14 with opposite faces 159 of said slide blocks slidably engaging opposed faces 150 of said openings. The guide openings 153 are elongated relative to the slide blocks 157 for movement of said slide blocks between opposed ends 161 of said openings, as illustrated in EEG. l. The biocks 157 and the pivot for the arcuate guide 150 are moved to selected position and held by means of links 162 at each side adjacent the guide plates 151 with each link having one end secured as by weiding to the spacer sleeve 156. The other ends of the links are secured by welding to a sleeve 163 rotatably mounted on a shaft 154 having ends 165 keyed or iixed in eccentrica 165 rotatably mounted in bearing openings 167 in the side plates 13 and 14. One of the eccentrics has a gear 163 meshing with a gear 169 adapted to be rotated by a crank 179. A pawl 171 is pivotally mounted as at 172 on the side plate 13 and is adapted to engage the gear 159' to hold same against rotation. By removal of the pawl 171 from engagement with the gear 169 and rotation of the crank 170, the gear 169 will rotate the gear 168 to turn the eccentrics and through the links 162 move the slide blocks 157 to desired position, and then the pawl 171 is re-engaged with the gear 169.

' The arcuate guide 150 may be limited in its swinging movement toward the abutment roller 35, as when bending flat plates, by means of a limit screw 173 slidable in a smooth bore 174 of a boss 175 fixed on a cross plate 176 rigidly connecting the side plates 13 and 14 adjad cent the edges 20 thereof, as illustrated'in FIG. 2. The screw 173 has one end pivotally connected as at 177 to the bar 154 and has an adjusting nut 177 threaded on the other end portion to engage the boss 175 to limit swinging movement of the arcuate guide 150 toward the abutment roller. However, in bending plates or heads other than flat pieces, the nut 177 on the limit screw 173 is normally retracted to provide suitable spacing between the nut 177 and the boss 175 on the cross plate 176 for free or unlimited swinging movement of the arcuate guide which swinging movement is effected by an extensible member such as an hydraulic jack 178 `having a cylinder 179 with an end pivotally mounted by a pin 180 to the cross plate 176, a piston rod 181 extending from the other end ofthe cylinder and being pivotally connected as at 182 to the arcuate guide bar 154. The cylinder has fluid pressure hoses 184 leading to a suitable source of supply of fluid pressure under control of a valve 185 whereby extension of the hydraulic jack swings the arcuate guide 150 toward the support roller 71 and abutment roller 35, and contraction of the hydraulic jack swings the arcuate guide in the opposite direction or away from the support roller 71,

thereby changing the position of the arcuate guide and the path of movement of the sector and bending roller relative to the work and the abutment roller. The axis of the sector 147 and the grooves 149 is coincidental with the intersection point of the top of the bending roller 145 and the face 186 of said roller 145 nearest the axis of the work piece and, in the illustrated structure, nearest the support roller 71. Said point of intersection and the axis of the grooves 149 is substantially at the point of the bending or forming performed on the work piece by the roller 145. The inclination of the side faces of the guide openings 15S is preferably such that they are in planes perpendicular to a line extending from said point of contact or intersection at the top of the roller 145 and through the axis of the shaft 155 when said shaft and the slide blocks 157 are positioned midway the normal travel of the blocks 157 in the guide openings 15S whereby movement of said slide blocks moves the arcuate guide 159 and the sector and bending roller 145 as a body to adjust the spacing between the top of the roller 145 and the abutment roller 35 to accommodate different thicknesses of plate or head to be bent.

The sector 147, together with the bending roller 145, is moved in an arcuate path as defined by the grooves 149 by means of an operator 188 which, in the illustrated structure, consists of an extensible member or hydraulic jack having a cylinder 189 xed tothe cross bar 154 and with a piston rod 190 extending from the upper end of the cylinder and having a pulley 191 on the upper end thereof engaged with a flexible member such as a cable 192 which extends thereover with one end of said cable secured by means of a pin 194 to an ear 195 on the sector 147, the other end of the cable being secured as by a pin 196 connected to the arcuate guide 150 at the side of the hydraulic jack 18S opposite from the sector 147, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Fluid under pressure is supplied by a duct 197 to the lower end of the cylinder 189, said duct 'being connected to a suitable source of pressure supply under control of a valve 198. The iiuid for use in actuating the hydraulic extensible members or jacks including the cylinders 179 and 189 is preferably contained in a tank 199 supported on the base above the cross member 8 and is withdrawn therefrom by a pump 200 driven by a motor 201 to supply iuid under pressure through a duct 202 to the valves and 193 for selectively supplying fluid pressure to the extensible members and permitting return flow of the duid through a duct 203 to the tank 199. A suitable source of compressed air (not shown) is connected to a supply pipe 205 and is delivered to the extensible members having cylinders 88 and 122 under control of valves 94 and 127 respectively.

Assuming that the parts are as disclosed and described,

and that a work piece in the form of a dished head 36 is to be formed, the valves 94, 127, 185 and 198 are manipulated to lower the support roller 71, raise the center member 69, lower the sector 147 and retract the arcuate guide 150 respectively. Then the pin 107 is removed and the block 102 tilted on the trunnions 103 whereby the axis of the lower center member 70 is at the proper angle for the particular dish of the head. The pin 107 is then reinserted in the slots 106 and apertures 105 to hold the block and center member 70 at said desired angle. Then the fastening devices 100 and 138 are loosened and the crank 116 rotated to move the slide member 95 to position the lower center member 70 the proper distance from the abutment roller i'or the particular diameter of the head. The fastening devices 100 are then tightened to hold the slide member 95 in the selected position. The upper center member 69 is then aligned with the lower center member 70, and the cylinder and piston rod 121 adjusted in angular relation whereby they are coaxial with the axis of the'lower center member 70, and the pin 141 replaced to hold the selected angular relation of the upper center member, and the fastening devices 138 are then tightened to hold the carriage in the selected position whereby the upper and lower center members will register. The work piece or head 36 is then placed in position with the hole 112 receiving the center pin 111, and the marginal portion of said head extending under the abutment roller and over the forming or bending roller 145. The valve 127 is then manipulated to extend the extensible member 120 to engage the upper center support 69 with the head to grip same between the center supports 69 and 70. The valve 94 is then manipulated to apply iluid or air pressure to the cylinder 8S to raise the support roller 71 to grip the marginal portion of the work piece between said support roller 71 and the abutment roller 35. The set screws 72 are adjusted to engage the lugs 73 to prevent further upward movement of the support roller 71 whereby said roller will not mar or press into the head during forming operations. The bolts S6 are then loosened and the side rollers 72 positioned to engage the under face of the head to aid in supporting same, and the bolts 85 are then tightened to hold said side rollers in selected position. The pawl 171 is then disengaged from the gear 169, and the crank 170 turned to move the slide blocks 157 in the openings 158 to move the arcuate guide 150, sector 147 and forming roller 145 toward the abutment roller to provide a spacing between the forming roller 145 and the abutment roller corresponding to the thickness of the metal of the head. The pawl 171 is then re-engaged with the gear 169 to hold the pivotal axis of the arcuate guide 150 in said selected position.

In the bending operation, the motor 49 is energized to rotate the shaft 39 and drive the abutment roller shaft 31V and the abutment roller 35 thereon through the gears 37 and 3S whereby the engagement of the abutment roller with the work piece rotates same on the axis of the center members 69 and 70. Then the valve 198 is manipulated whereby the extensible mem-ber 188 rotates the sector 147 upwardly to cause the bending roller 145 to rise pivotally and bend the marginal portion of the head 36 upwardly. Then the valve 185 is manipulated to contract the extensible member 178 to swing the arcuate guide 150 away from the support roller to change the angle of engagement of the forming roller 145 with the work piece. The valve 198 is again actuated whereby the extensible member 188 raises the forming roller 145 upwardly in its arcuate path for further bending of the marginal portion of Ithe work piece. The extensible member 18S is further manipulated to raise the sector up and down in its arcuate path and carry the forming roller 145 therewith, and the extensible member 178 actuated to swing the arcuate guide 150 toward and away from the abutment roller to obtain various angles of engagement of the roller 145 with the marginal portion of the work piece to gradually bend 8 and iron said marginal portion upwardly until it forms a flange that is pressed atly against the proximate face of the abutment roller The working of the marginal portion providesj an ironing out of wrinkles that may have occurred in dishing the head and a gradual bending to effect the flanging operation without buckling or wrinkling of the metal plate of the Work piece whereby the ange will grow in length as it is bent up, but said flange will not thicken. While this operation provides a gradual ironing and bending to obtain a smooth forming and bending of a fiange or the like, the operation is performed rapidly due to the ease with which the movements of the forming roller 145, by the movements of the sector 147, and the arcuate guide 150, through the extensible members or hydraulic jacks, and by the operator being able to watch the movements of said forming roller relative to the work through the mouth opening in the side plate 13. After the head has been properly formed or anged, the extensible member 178 is actuated to swing the arcuate guide away from the abutment roller and retract the forming roller 145 therefrom, and fluid or air pressure in the cylinder 88 is released whereby the sup-V port roller '71 and side rollers 72 are lowered a distance greater than the height of the flange on the work piece. Then the valve 127 is manipulated whereby the piston rod 121 is drawn upwardly in the cylinder 122 to retract the center member 69 from the lower center member 70 thereby releasing the formed head for removal from the machine.

it is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire. to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a plate tianging machine, an abutment roller engaging one face of a plate at the area where the bend is to be produced, a support roller engaging the opposite face of the plate and holding said plate against the abutment roller, an arcuate guide, a sector mounted for movement on said arcuate guide, a bending roller carried by said sector and underlying said plate adjacent to and outwardly of the support roller, means for moving said sector on said arcuate guide to bend the plate toward the proximate face of said abutment roller, means pivotally supporting said arcuate guide for arcuate movement toward and away from said abutment roller independently of said support roller, means for moving said arcuate guide in an arcuate path to change the path of the bending roller and change the angle of engagement of said bending roller with said plate, and driving means to effect rotation of said plate.

2. In a plate flanging machine, an abutment roller engaging one face of a plate at the area where the bend is to be produced, a support roller engaging the opposite face of the plate and holding said plate against the abutment roller, a bending roller engaging the opposite face of the plate outward of said area, a sector carrying the bending roller, means supporting said sector for movement in a circular path, operative means connected to said sector to move same in the circular path to cause said bendingroller to bend the plate toward the proximate face of the abutment roller, means movably supporting the sector supporting means for movement in an arc toward and away from said abutment roller independently of said support roller, operative means connected to said sector supporting means to effect arcuate movement thereof to change the position of the circular path of the sector and change the angle of engagement of the bending roller and plate, driving means to effect rotation of said plate, and means for withdrawing the sup port roller from said plate a distance exceeding the height of the ange for removal of the plate from between the abutment and bending rollers.

3. In a plate flanging machine, an abutment roller engaging one face of a plate at the area where the bend is to be produced, a support roller engaging the opposite face of the plate and holding said plate against the abutment roller, an arcuate guide, a sector mounted for movement on said arcuate guide, a bending roller carried by said sector and underlying said plate adjacent to and outwardly of t-he support roller, means for moving said sector on said arcuate guide to bend the plate toward the proximate face of said abutment roller, means pivotally supporting said arcuate guide for swinging movement toward and away from said abutment roller independently of said support roller, means for swinging said arcuate guide to shift the path of the bending roller and change the angle of engagement of said bending roller with said plate, means shifting the pivotal axis of the arcuate guide on a rline perpendicular to a line extending through said axis and the point of engagement of the bending roller and the plate for changing the spacing between the proximate faces of the bending roller and abutment roller for different thicknesses of plate, and driving means to effect rotation of said plate.

4. ln a plate tianging machine, an abutment roller engaging one face of a plate at the area where the bend is to be produced, a support roller engaging the opposite face of the plate and holding said plate against the abutment roller, an arcuate guide, a sector mounted for movement on said arcuate guide, a bending roller carried by said sector and underlying said plate adjacent to and outwardly of the support roller, means for moving Said sector on said arcuate guide to bend the plate toward the proximate face of said abutment roller, means pivotally supporting said arcuate guide for swinging movement toward and away from said abutment roller independently of said support roller, means for swinging said arcuate guide to shift the path of the bending roller and change the angle of engagement of said bending roller with said plate, means shifting the pivotal axis of the arcuate guide on a line perpendicular to a line extending through said axis and the point of engagement of the bending roller and the plate for changing the spacing between the proximate faces of the bending roller and abutment roller for different thicknesses of plate, driving means to eect rotation of said plate, and means for withdrawing the support roller from said plate a distance exceeding the height of the flange for removal of the plate from between the abutment and bending rollers.

5. In a plate ilanging machine, a base including an elongate lower rail and an upstanding portion at one end thereof, an upper rail supported on said upstanding c portion of the base and extending therefrom in spaced parallel relation and in vertical alignment with said lower rail, a lower centermember engaging the under side of a circular plate to be marginally formed, means on the lower rail supporting said lower center' member for rotation on its axis and for tilting said axis of rotation fore and aft relative to the upstanding portion of the base, an upper center member, means on the upper rail rotatably supporting said upper center member for rotation on the axis of the lower center member and for moving said upper center member into engagement with said plate to be marginally formed in overlying relation to the lower center member to clamp the plate therebetween, a support roller adjacent the opstanding portion of the base for engaging the under side of the plate near its perimeter, an abutment roller overlying the plate andengaging the upper side thereof above the support roller for gripping said plate therebetween, said abutment roller engaging said plate at the area where the bend is to be produced, an arcuate guide, a sector mounted for movement on said arcuate guide, a bending roller carried by said sector and underlying said plate adjacent to and outwardly of the support roller, means for moving said sector on said arcuate guide to bend the plate toward the proximate face of said abutment roller, means movably supporting said arcuate guide for movement toward and away from said abutment roller independently of said support roller, means for moving said arcuate guide to shift the path of the bending roller and change the angle Vof engagement of said bending roller with said plate, and driving means to effect rotation of said plate.

6. In a plate Hanging machine, a base including an elongate rail and an upstanding portion at one end thereof, an upper rail supported on said opstanding portion of the base and extending therefrom in spaced parallel relation and in vertical alignment with said lower rail, a lower center member engaging the under side `of a circular plate to be marginally formed, means on the lower rail supporting said lower center member for rotation on its axis and for tilting said axis of rotation fore and aft relative to the upstanding portion of the base, a carriage on the upper rail and movable therealong, means securing said carriage to said upper rail in selected position, an upper center member, means rotatably supporting said upper center member for rotation on the axis of the lower center member, means on the carriage moving said upper center member into engagement with said plate in overlying relation to the lower center member to clamp said plate therebetween, a support roller adjacent the upstanding portion of the base for engaging the under side of the plate near its perimeter, an abutment roller overlying the plate and engaging the upper side thereof above the support roller `for gripping said plate therebetween, said abutment roller engaging said plate at the area where the bend is to be produced, an arcuate guide, a sector mounted for movement on said arcuate guide, a bending roller carried by said sector and underlying said plate adjacent to and outwardly of the support roller, means for moving said sector on said arcuate guide to bend the plate toward the proximate face of said abutment roller, means movably supporting said arcuate guide for movement toward and away from said abutment roller independently of said support roller, means for v moving said arcuate guide to shift the path of the bending roller and change the angle of engagement of said bending roller with said plate, and driving means to effect rotation of said plate.

7. In a plate flanging machine, a base including an elongate rail and an upstanding portion at one end thereof, an upper rail movably supported on said upstanding portion of the base and extending therefrom in spaced parallel relation and in vertical alignment and parallel with said lower rail, means retaining the upper rail in selected position relative to the base, a lower center member engaging the under side of a circular plate to 'be marginally formed, means on the lower rail supporting said lower center member for rotation on its axis and for tilting said axis of rotation fore and aft relative to the upstanding portion of the base and in the center plane r extending through the lower and upper rails, a carriage on the upper rail and movable therealong, means securing said carriage to said upper rail in selected position, an upper center member, means rotatablyA supporting said upper center member for rotation on the axis of the lower center member, means on the carriage moving said upper center member into engagement with said plate in overlying relation to the lower center member to clamp said plate therebetween, a support roller adjacent the upstanding portion of the base for engaging the under side of the plate near its perimeter, said lower center supporting means and said carriage being positioned on the lower and upper rails whereby the marginal portion of the plate to be formed extends beyond said support. roller, an abutment roller overlying the plate and engaging the upper side thereof above the support roller for gripping said plate therebetween, said abutment roller engaging said plate at the area where the bend is to be produced, an arcuate guide, a sector mounted for movement on said arcuate guide, a bending roller carried by said Sector and support roller, means for moving said sector on said arcuate guide to bend the plate toward the proximate face of said abutment roller, means pivotally supporting said arcuate guide for swinging movement toward and away from said abutment roller independently'of said supportroller, means for swinging Said arcuate guide to shift the path of the bending roller and change the angle of engagement of said bending roller with said plate, driving means to eect rotation of said plate, and means movably supporting said support roller for movement toward and away from the plate a distance exceeding the height of the bent marginal portion of the plate.

8. In a plate iiangiug machine, a base including an elongate rail and an upstanding portion at one end thereof, an upper rail supported on said upstanding portion of the base and extending therefrom in spaced parallel relation and in vertical alignment with said lower rail, a lower center member engaging the under side of a circular plate to be marginally formed, means on the lower rail supporting said center member for rotation on its `axis and for tilting said axis of rotation fore and aft relative to the upstanding portion of the base, means on the upper rail rotatably supporting said upper center member for rotation on the axis of the lower center member and for moving said upper center member into engagement with the plate in overlying relation to the lower center member to clamp the plate therebetween, a support roller adjacent the upstanding portion of the base for engaging the under side of the plate near its perimeter, an abutment roller overlying the plate and engaging the upper side thereof above the support roller for gripping said plate therebetween, said abutment roller engaging said plate at the area where the bend is to be produced, an arcuate guide, a sector mounted for movement on said arcuate guide, a bending roller carried by said sector and underlying said plate adjacent to and outwardly of the support roller, means for moving said sector on said arcuate guide to bend the plate toward the proximate face of said abutment roller, means supporting said arcuate guide for movement in an arcuate path toward and away from said abutment roller independently of said support roller, means for moving said arcuate guide in its arcuate path to shift the path of the bending roller and change the angle of engagement of said bending roller with said plate, and driving means operatively connected to the abutment roller for rotating same and eiecting rotation of the plate.

9. In a plate hanging machine, a base including an elongate rail and an upstanding portion at one end thereof, an upper rail supported on said opstanding portion of the base and extending therefrom in spaced parallel relation and in vertical alignment with said lower rail, a lower center member engaging the under side olf a circular plate to be marginally formed, means on the lower rail supporting said center member for rotation on its axis and for tilting said axis of rotation fore and aft relative to the upstanding portion of the base, an upper center member, means on the upper rail rotatably supporting said upper center member for rotation on the axis of the lower center member and for moving said upper center member into engagement with the plate in overlying relation to the lower center member to clamp the plate therebetween, a support :roller adjacent the upstanding portion of the base for engaging the under side of the plate near its perimeter, an abutment roller overlying the plate and engaging the upper side thereof above the support roller for gripping said plate therebetween, said abutment roller engaging said plate at the area where the bend is to rbe produced, an arcuate guide, a sector mounted for movement on said arcuate guide, a bending roller carried by said sector and underlying said plate adjacent to and outwardly of the support roller, means for moving said sector on said arcuate guide to bend the plate toward the proximate face of said abutment roller, means pivotally supporting said arcuate guide for swinging movement toward and away from said abutment roller independently of said support roller, means for swinging said arcuate guide to shift the path of the bending roller and change the angle of engagement of said bending roller with said platre, driving means operatively connected to the abutment roller for rotating same and effecting rotation of the plate, and means movably supporting said support roller for movement toward and away from the plate a distance exceeding the height of the bent marginal portion of said plate.

l0. In a plate iianging machine, a base including an elongate rail and an upstanding portion at one end thereof, an upper rail movably supported on said upstanding portion of the base and extending therefrom in spaced parallel relation and in vertical alignment with said lower rail, means retaining the upper rail in selected position relative to the base, a lower center member engaging the under side of a circular plate to be marginally formed, means on the lower rail supportingsaid center member for rotation on its axis and for tilting said axis of rotation fore and aft relative to the upstanding portion of the base and in the center plane extending through the lower and upper rails, a carriage on the upper rail and movable therealong, means securing said carriage to said upper rail in selected position, an upper center member, means rotatably supporting said upper center member for rotation on the axis of the lower center member, means on the carriage moving said upper center member into engagement with the plate in overlying relation to the lower center member to clamp the plate therebetween, a support roller adjacent the upstanding portion of the base for engaging the under side of the plate near its perimeter, said lower center supporting means and said carriage being. positioned on the lower and upper rails whereby the marginal portion of the plate to be formed extends beyond said support roller, an abutment roller overlying the plate and engaging the upper side thereof above the support roller for gripping said plate therebetween, said abutment roller engaging said plate at the area where the bend is to be produced, an arcuate guide, a sector mounted for movement on said arcuate guide, a bending roller carried by said sector and underlying said plate adjacent to and outwardly of the support roller, means for moving said sector on said arcuate guide to bend the plate toward the proximate face of said abutment roller, means pivotally supporting said arcuate guide for swinging movement toward and away from said abutment roller independently of said support roller, means for swinging said arcuate guide to shift the path of the bending roller and change the angle of engagement of said bending roller with said plate, means shifting the pivotal axis of the arcuate guide on a line perpendicular to a line extending through said axis and the point of engagement of the bending roller and the plate for changing the spacing between the proximate faces of the bending roller and abutment roller for different thicknesses of plate, driving means operatively connected to the abutment roller for rotating same and effecting rotation of the plate, and means movably supporting said support roller for movement toward and away from the plate a distance exceeding the height of the bent marginal portion of said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

